By Rédaction Africanews It’s been more than 60 years since apartheid police opened fire on a 1960 protest in South Africa. Now, Lawyers for survivors and relatives of those killed are launching legal action against the South African government, hoping to overturn a law that has prevented compensation claims. 87 year-old Abram Mofokeng, a Sharpeville massacre survivor, hopes the government follows through on their pledges .”What we are expecting is for them to honour their promises. When Mr Mandela unveiled this memorial following his release from prison. He promised us R120 000 [$7,437 USD, at today’s exchange rate ed.] for…
Author: Montage Africa
The driver of a car carrying Anthony Joshua was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it crashed, killing two of the boxer’s friends, a court in Nigeria has heard. Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, faces charges including causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a valid national driver’s licence. He denies the charges. The court was told that the group – who had been travelling to visit Joshua’s father in Ogun State, near Lagos in Nigeria, last December – were asleep when Kayode lost control of his Lexus SUV while he overtook a moving truck and collided with a parked lorry.…
By Africanews with AFP Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday on a rare trip to the Middle East as both countries face the threat of US sanctions over financial links to Iran. Xi and his wife were greeted on the tarmac by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the first lady, as well as a performance by an Egyptian folk dance troupe. The two-day visit comes as both countries seek to manage the fallout of the months-long Middle East war, which began when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, throwing the…
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said he wants to reinstate the death penalty for arsonists, following a wave of deadly forest fires. The official death toll stands at 12, but independent news outlets believe the figure is much higher. The president ordered the justice ministry to introduce changes to the criminal law introducing capital punishment for arsonists. Capital punishment remains in the country’s penal code for some offences, but no execution has been carried out since 1993. More than 100 wildfires have been recorded in recent days in the north-east of the country, most of which have been extinguished. On…
By Rédaction Africanews Spanish prosecutors say 23 sexual assault cases, including nine involving children, have been reported in Ceuta since thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory at the end of July. Ceuta’s chief prosecutor, Silvia Rojas, said the figure amounted to almost one reported case a day. She told El País that migrant girls were particularly vulnerable because of their irregular status and difficult circumstances. Around 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta on 30 and 31 July, although most have since returned to Morocco. About 5,000 remain, including an estimated 1,400 to 1,600 children. Spanish news agency Efe reports that…
By Africanews with AFP Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema pledged to build on the economic turnaround achieved during his first term as he was sworn in for a new mandate Tuesday after tense elections. Hichilema took the oath of office with the main opposition leader — who was the runner-up in the August 13 ballot — under arrest on treason charges that he rejects. The vote was marred by allegations of intimidation, pro-government bias and restrictions on the opposition, tarnishing the copper-rich country’s democratic reputation. Thousands of cheering supporters wearing the red colours of Hichilema’s UPND party packed the Lusaka stadium…
By Rédaction Africanews with AFP A coalition of Ugandan and Kenyan activists on Tuesday blamed Kenya for the plight of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye, whose health is deteriorating as he faces treason charges. Besigye, a former personal physician to long-ruling Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has been in the authorities’ crosshairs since he joined the east African country’s opposition more than 25 years ago. He was abducted in November 2024 during a trip to Kenya and later appeared before courts on treason charges after being accused of plotting a conspiracy against Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for more than 40…
Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency has dismissed more than 40 employees for alleged corruption and financial misconduct over the past three years. The disclosure was made by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Ola Olukoyede at an event assessing the agency’s achievements since he took the helm in October 2023. He said more than five of the dismissed officials were already facing prosecution, while case files are being prepared against others. The EFCC investigates financial crimes, including fraud, money laundering and corruption – regularly pursuing cases against politicians, public officials, business figures and others accused of misusing public funds. “In the…
By Africanews with AFP Thirteen people appeared in court in South Africa in connection with the discovery of a multimillion-rand drug manufacturing laboratory. The suspects, including Mexican, Mozambican, Zimbabwean and South African nationals, face charges related to drug manufacturing, illegal possession of precious metals, illegal possession of hazardous materials and contravention of the Immigration Act. They were arrested in May in an operation where police uncovered an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory northwest of Johannesburg. A magistrate ordered the suspects remanded in custody until September 21. Authorities estimated the value of the drugs produced at around 250 million rand ($15 million). The…
By Rédaction Africanews with AP Nigeria on Tuesday confirmed the planned withdrawal of around 200 U.S. troops sent to help the West African country tackle its complex security crisis. The deployment was made in February following an escalation in tensions between Nigeria and the U.S. following accusations of Christian genocide. According to the Nigerian government, the U.S. troops assisted in training and intelligence gathering and took part in a joint operation in which a top Islamic State leader was killed. “The relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial. The deployment of United States personnel…